Herniated disc, also known as a slipped disc, is a relatively common condition. It can occur on any part the spine, but most often affects the lower back or neck region.

Herniated disc most commonly develops as a result of the normal aging process. Other causes include overuse and trauma to the spine. Genetic factors also have a big contribution to the development of disc degeneration and sequence herniation.

The shoulder is a complex structure, build up of three bones and two joints, and quite a few muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This architecture allows a wide range of motion in the arm. This wide range of movements makes the shoulder more prone to injuries than the other joints.

Knee pain is a pain localized in or around the knee. The pain usually is anterior, which means it’s felt at the front of the knee. But the pain also may be felt at the sides, back or along the joint line of the knee.

It is common pain and can occur suddenly or over a period of time, often difficult to pinpoint or describe it, and can affect people of all ages. Numerous things can cause knee pain, such as cartilage tear, ligament tear, arthritis or muscle problems.

The United States is the world leader of prescribing opioids, with a daily dose of 50,000 per million people. Prescription drugs are a vital part of your health coverage with Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Opioids are medicines prescribed as painkillers, often after car accidents, surgery, big injuries or to treat chronic pain. And because their prescription is legal many people are not aware of the addictive and dangerous effects.

It is estimated that 50 – 70% of the world’s population will experience neck pain at least once in their lives. Due to the modern way of life, the number of affected by this problem is increasing every day. In most cases it isn’t a serious condition, and can be relieved within days, but becomes chronic in about 10% of people. Stress, reduced daily physical activity, work in front of the computer, and improper body seating are just some of the reasons that can cause neck pain.

With the New Year, comes the new year’s resolutions ideas. One consistent 2019 resolution that pops up is implementing healthy habits into everyday life. Why are we so consumed by the idea of living healthy? What keeps this goal out of reach? Maybe because of the popular opinion that healthy habits demand too much of our effort and time. Well, I’m not going to tell you what to do but I hope you don’t mind if I make some suggestions.

Ever feel kind of blue in the depths of winter when there’s no sun and the temperatures dip below freezing? It turns out, that’s not just a mood. There is a medical term for the winter blues and it affects an estimated 10 million Americans each year. Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD is a type of depression that manifests during a specific season year after year. While there are people who experience SAD in the summer, the majority of cases occur in the winter months.